Should we throw away the things our exes give us to respect our new partner?

My ex gave me a fluffy dog toy that I like hugging it to sleep every single night. This bothers my current boyfriend a lot - sometimes he would push it away and say "get this dog away from my face". He would tell me to give it away to charity. I have moved on from my ex, but the dog is so cute that I didn't want to trash it. What should I do?P. s. My current boyfriend also has a wallet that his ex gave him - He said that he is planning to throw it away but he wants to use it a bit more since it is in good condition. Should I let him keep it/ buy a new one for him? Thoughts?

Most Helpful Guy

It seems that we don't need to throw away everything an ex gives to us, in order to respect our new partner. However, a fluffy dog that you like hugging every night to sleep would bother me. Probably because it's from him and so comforting and directly related to bed and sleeping.

Something like a wallet is seems much less personal to me. However, if he's wanting you to get rid of the stuffed toy, then you might compromise with him, and get rid of it if he gets rid of the wallet. Also, a wallet might seem more personal to you than it does to me.

What Guys Said 21

The best way to deal with it is to be extremely pedantic on equality and his principle. Did your ex' ever sleep in that bed with you? If so, that has to go to. Did you ever share the building with them? Get rid of it! xP He's looking at it through a very narrow gaze and he's applying more meaning to it all than it really has, i. e, you've still got the toy because you like the toy - not because you want your ex' back or have anything to do with them. x)

How long have you been broken up with the ex and how long have you been dating this guy? Initially I would say he's being immature, but if you just broke up with the ex and started dating this guy then it might seem like you're clinging on to the past. It depends.

I always let my partners to keep whatever they want.who are we to interfere any emotion a person might be having.if they feel they want to hold something and not throw it themselves, it won't change a thing if you tell them to throw it.besides that, people put their effort and sense of creativity to buy your partner something very special, its part of respect to the person that was with your partner before you..accept it, embrace it - you will probably live life to the fullest.

I am sorry if an ex gives me a present I really like, I am going to keep it.I understand the complaint about the toy because he sees it as something you direct your affections to, something that you lean on when you need emotional support. I think he is jealous of the toy, he wishes you would use him and not the toy. It is just that the ex gave the toy heightens this jealousy.

it just shows his own insecurity in your relationship, on the otherhand if you care about him you would want to make him feel secure in your relationship by giving it up. does the stuffed dog mean more to you than he does? Let him know how much he means to you.

Yeah there's a difference between a real living animal and a wallet, for God's sake. He's being heartless. Besides, why is he telling you what you can or cannot keep? If your ex gave you something, it's yours. A gift to you is yours, and your boyfriend has no jurisdiction over it. If he's like... in his 20s or 30s, he needs to grow up a little...